Improvement in cutting apparatus for harvesters



UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

ADAM E. REESE, OF PHILLIPSBUEG, NEW' JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CUTTING APPARATUS FOR HARVESTERS.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,040, dated April 22, 1852.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADAM It. REEsE, of Phillipsburg, in the county of Warren and `State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvement-s in Cutting Apparatus for Harvesting- Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a view in perspective of a portion of the cutting apparatus of aharvesting-machine embracing my improvements. Fig. 2 represents a vertical transverse section through the same through the center of one oi' the iingers. Fig. 3 represents a View in perspective 4of one of the guard-fingers detached. Fig. 4 represents a similar view of one of the face-plates upon which the cutter slides, and Fig. 5 represents a vertical transverse section through the same.

It is the object oi' my invention to provide a cheap, simple, and efficient cutting apparatus, either for reaping or mowing; and to this end my improvement consists in constructing the guard-lingers in such manner that each iinger shall have upon the upper surface of its lower member a steel face-plate having a sharp cutting-edge, over which the cutter-blades vibrate, the whole being combined in such manner that the iinger-bea1n shall be clasped between the shank of the iinger and the face-plate, so that the plates may readily be removed or replaced, as hereinafter more fully described.

In the accompanying drawings, the fingerbeam is represented as composed of an iron or steel bar, A, upon which are placed a series of guard-Engels, B, of the shape shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The upper surface of the lower member of the finger is made iiat and true, and a notch, c, is cut on the forward end of the finger. A steel plate, C, iits into the notch and lies upon the iiat surface of the finger. The upper edges of this plate are sharp and iiush, and beveled below, as shown in Fig. 5, in order that they may be readily sharpened by grinding when required. The shank b of the guard-finger extends below the iinger-beam, and the face-plate lies upon it. The whole three are securely fastenedtogether by means of screw-bolts a and nuts. The plates can thus be readily removed or replaced by unscrewing the nuts. The details of the construction and connection of the several parts are clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. A series of scalloped critters, D, are riveted to the under side of the cutter-bar E, which is flat on its under side and curved or rounded on its upper surface, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. This bar vibrates in guides e upon the finger-beam, and the Hush edges of the cutter D play over those of the face-plates C, and thus effectually shear off the stalks or blades with which they come in contact. Owing to the curved form of the bar, the 'stalks will slide over it easily and avoid being caught, as they would be if the bar had a square edge.

I am aware that guard-ngers have heretofore been used with steel plates having cuttingedges, and do not therefore broadly claimsuch device. Neither do I claim the particular form or construction of the Vguard-finger as new in itself; but, i

Having thus described my improved cutting apparatus, what I do claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination and connection of the nger-beam A, guard-fingers B, and face-plate O by means of the bolts a, when the whole are constructed, arranged, and operate as herein described, in combination with a reciprocatA ing critter, for the purpose set forth.

In `testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name. Y

ADAM R. REESE. 

